LINGUIST List 11.777

Wed Apr 5 2000

FYI: Change/Postdoc Rules/Canada, Clinical Ling/M.A.

Editor for this issue: Lydia Grebenyova <lydialinguistlist.org>

Directory

  • Martha McGinnis, Problematic Change to SSHRC Postdoc Rules/ Canada
  • Inger Moen, Clinical Linguistics - European Master's Program

    Message 1: Problematic Change to SSHRC Postdoc Rules/ Canada

     Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 09:35:19 -0600
    From: Martha McGinnis <mcginnisucalgary.ca>
    Subject: Problematic Change to SSHRC Postdoc Rules/ Canada


    This message is to alert Canadian linguists (and landed immigrants to Canada) that there has been a problematic change to the application requirements for SSHRC postdoctoral fellowships. According to the new rules, applicants must submit their dissertation for defense by the date of application (October 1). This means that the many people who submit their theses in the spring or summer will not be able to apply for a SSHRC postdoc until the fall after their defense. Thus, they will have to find a one-year job to support themselves before they can hope to take up a SSHRC postdoc.

    This change does serious damage to the value of the postdoc. It also seems unnecessary: the rationale is that SSHRC wants to have earlier notice of whether recipients will be able to graduate in time to take up their awards. Submitting the dissertation for defense by April (when the recipients are announced) would be sufficient for this purpose.

    I plan to write a letter to SSHRC objecting to the new policy. If you are interested in signing your name to this letter, please contact me and I will keep you informed.

    The original message from SSHRC is appended (English version only, due to font problems).

    Cheers, Martha

    _________________________________________________________ Dr. Martha McGinnis Assistant Professor of Linguistics, University of Calgary 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 CANADA phone: (403) 220-6119, fax: (403) 282-3880 http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~mcginnis/



    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    From: "Ellis,Ned" <NED.ELLISSSHRC.CA>

    MEMORANDUM

    Date: March 27, 2000

    To: Deans of Graduate Studies, Doctoral Award Holders, Offices of Research Administration, Scholarship Liaison Officers

    From: Carole Ann Murphy, Director, Fellowships and Institutional Grants Division

    Subject: Eligibility criteria for postdoctoral fellowships applicants

    This memorandum is to inform you of a new eligibility criteria for applicants to SSHRC's postdoctoral fellowships.

    The SSHRC Fellowships Guide states that, "at the time of taking up the award, candidates must have completed all the requirements for the doctoral degree. Awards must be taken up between April 1st and January 1st following the announcement of the competition results."

    While this time frame would appear to be sufficient for successful candidates to complete the requirements of their doctoral degree, it is often not the case. For those awards which are declined as soon as the competition results have been announced, SSHRC is able to offer the fellowships to other candidates on the alternate list. The longer the delay between the announcement of the results and a candidate's decision to decline the award, the more difficult it becomes to reallocate the funds. In some cases, candidates on the alternate list have already made other arrangements and are unable to accept the award. As the fiscal year draws to a close, it becomes financially impossible to disburse the funds. Either way, awards are lost each year.

    Over the course of the last year, SSHRC has discussed with former members of the postdoctoral adjudication committees and members of the Standing Committee on Fellowships and Career Development possible solutions to this problem. All those consulted agreed that SSHRC should obtain, at the time of application, an indication of the progress made by the applicant toward the completion of the doctoral degree. It was therefore decided that, for future competitions, applicants for postdoctoral fellowships who have not completed their degree requirements will have to append to their application a letter signed by the Dean of Graduate Studies confirming that the Ph.D. dissertation has been submitted for defence by the competition deadline of October 1st. Given that dissertations submitted for defence by October 1st will have been finalized and the Ph.D. obtained between April and January 1st following the announcement of the competition results, this will ensure that few if any awards will be forfeited.

    mcginnisucalgary.ca

    Message 2: Clinical Linguistics - European Master's Program

     Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 15:38:25 +0200
    From: Inger Moen <inger.moenilf.uio.no>
    Subject: Clinical Linguistics - European Master's Program


    European Master's in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL)

    A one-year Master's programme

    A SOCRATES project of the Universities of Groningen, Joensuu, Newcastle, Oslo, Potsdam, Reading and Tessaloniki

    WHAT The Master's Programme in Clinical Linguistics involves a one year full time university programme at advanced level (Master's type) in Clinical Linguistics, providing an integrated training in both neurolinguistic theory and clinical methods. The programme comprises three terms. In the first term, the student will study at his or her home university, i.e. the university where s/he is registered for the EMCL. This term is more or less the same at the participating universities and consists of a number of core courses. During the second and third term, the students attend specialized courses. The courses in the second term will be undertaken at the second university. To finish the programme, the student writes a Master's dissertation and attends a Summerschool.

    WHO The requirement for admission is at least three years of higher education with emphasis on: speech and language pathology, linguistics, biomedical sciences, psychology or special education with the emphasis on language impairments.

    WHEN/WHERE The pilot year will start in September 2000. It is intended that a second course will start in 2001, after a positive evaluation. The first year will start at two universities: University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and the University of Reading, UK.

    REGISTRATION/INFO You can apply for admission by sending the application form (see website). The deadline for submission is May 15.

    More information For detailed information of the European Master's in Clinical Linguistics see the website of the programme: http://www.let.rug.nl/emcl send an e-mail to: emcllet.rug.nl or a letter to: European Master's in Clinical Linguistics Prof.dr. Y.R.M. Bastiaanse, coordinator Department of Linguistics University of Groningen P.O. Box 716 9700 AS Groningen, the Netherlands